Waler-positioning support for accommodating two dimensional standards in form lumber

ABSTRACT

A waler support for wall form systems used in confining poured concrete is adapted for installation in either of two positions corresponding to the use of lumber of two sizes or dimensional standards to retain accurate form-spacing relationships in both cases.

United States Patent 1191 Williams June 11, 1974 WALER-POSITIONING SUPPORT FOR ACCOMMODATING TWO DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS IN FORM LUMBER [76] Inventor: Chester I. Williams, 347 Greenbriar SE, Grand Rapids, Mich. 49506 [22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 341,701

[52] US. Cl. 249/40, 249/219 W [51] Int. Cl. E04g 11/08 [58] Field of Search..... 249/219 W, 40, 219 R, 205,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,702,937 2/1929 Friedeman 248/250 X Roemisch 249/219 W 2,133,574 10/1938 2,402,337 6/1946 McWilliams 249/219 w x 2,637,889 5/1953 Dulleck 249 219 w x 2,689,101 9/1954 Dygcrt 249/219 w Primary Examiner-.l. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-John S. Brown Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Glenn B. Morse [57] ABSTRACT A waler support for wall form systems used in confining poured concrete is adapted for installation in either of two positions corresponding to the use of lumber of two sizes or dimensional standards to retain accurate form-spacing relationships in both cases.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PA'TENTEDJun1'1 1914 SHEET 10F 2 WALER-POSITIONING SUPPORT FOR ACCOMMODATING TWO DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS IN FORM LUMBER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The construction of walls with poured concrete normally involves the use of a form system based upon reinforced and supported parallel panels defining a space between them in which the concrete is poured and confined. The forces tending to separate the panels under the tremendous liquid pressure of newly-deposited concrete is resisted by a series of tie systems extending through the space between the panels, and interconnected with the form structure on the opposite sides. According to usual practice, this form structure includes a plywood panel reinforced by parallel bracing secured directly to the panels, and commonly referred to a studs. These are usually arranged vertically. A second set of beams, usually in pairs, is arranged transversely to the studs (usually horizontally), and bridges across them. These beams are commonly referred to as walers. The tie systems normally traverse the panels and the space between the walers. The pressure of deposited concrete is resisted by forces transmitted through a bracket engaged with the end of the tie system, and bridging across the walers at the point where the outer tie member emerges.

In addition to the resistance of the pressure of the poured concrete, it is desirable to utilize the tie system as a means for accurately spacing the forms during the process of erection, and during the period in which the concrete is being poured. Inward movement of the form panels in a direction such as to reduce the space between them is commonly resisted by some device axially fixed with respect to the tie system, and engaging some part of the form structure in a position such as to generate forces in the opposite direction from those applied to the principal securing bracket. The most common spacing systems utilize a positive placement of the tie system with respect to the walers. This obviously presents a problem where the contractor is confronted with variations in the standard dimensions of the lumber used for the walers and the studs, as variations in the width dimensions of these beams will obviously alter the relative placement of the form panels which determine the thickness of the wall being poured.

At least three different forms of dimensional variation are frequently encountered. One of these is obviously the desirability of altering the nominal width dimensions of the walers and studs to suit the stresses on the particular tie system. Concrete pressures vary directly with the depth of the poured material, and those at the lower portion of the form' structure are obviously subject to greater stresses, unless the spacing of the tie systems is altered. A second source of dimensional variation is that atributable merely to manufacturing tolerances. These are normally small enough to be ignored within the standards of precision used in construction of this type. A third possibility, however, is a major concern. At the time of the filing of the present application, a transistion is being made within the lumber industry between two different dimensional standards for lumber of this type. Under the old standard, for example, a two-by-four is actually 3% inches wide. Under tli'e newstandardxtliifividthfiulddavyinches. Dur'e" 1- ing-aweryccofiiderable transistion period, stocks of lumber under both standards are present on the market. It is obvious that the indiscriminate use of this material will produce considerable inaccuracy in the spacing of the forms.

It has been common practice to include support brackets for the walers in the construction of wall forms. These brackets are essentially steel plates secured to the studs in a position to extend out in cantilever fashion to provide a supporting surface fo the walers so that the workmen assembling the system do not have a serious problem of holding them in position while the tie systems are being connected, and prior to the application of substantial forces from the presence of the poured concrete. These support brackets are commonly provided with abutments that have the effect of placement of the waler against the studs so that the spacing functions can be performed in both directions. This obviously presumes that no significant looseness or shifting can exist between the waler and the studs, which obviously would be the result of vairations in the cross sectional dimensions of the lumber. The latter has almost resulted in the abandonment of the advantages of the support and positive placement features of the waler bracket.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a reverseable waler bracket having parallel supporting edges at the diagonally opposite end portions of the unit, with the conventional locating tabs positioned centrally in a position such that placement against the outer edges of the studs orients the supporting edges perpendicularly to the plane of the stud edges. Stops are provided at the outer extremities of the supporting edges, and the distance between one of these stops and the plane determined by the positioning tabs is associated with a particular width dimension for the waler beam. Rotated degrees on a horizontal axis from this position, the opposite portion of the locating tabs is again in position to bear on the stud edges to place the opposite supporting edge in projected position, and the distance from DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a fonn assembly at the junction of studs and walers.

FIG. 2 is a sectional elevation adjacent the junction shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the waler-supporting plate shown installed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the plate shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the plate shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, these figures being in projection.

---FIG. 6 is an exploded view showing thebolt and hair Tpih"s pacer of a conventional tie assembly.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the support plate reversed by rotating it 180 degrees on a horizontal axis.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The form structure appearing in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 includes a plywood panel 10, spaced parallel stud beams 12 usually secured to the panel 10, and the spaced waler beams 13 and 14 bearing against the outer edges of the studs 12. The studs will usually be repeated at predetermined intervals along the horizontal span of the form structure, and the walers bridge across these members to transfer the forces through the tie systems generally indicated at 15. These tie systems include the inner tie rod 16 traversing the space between spaced form panels 10, and in threaded engagement with the bolts 17 on the opposite sides of the form system. The structure shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 7 is duplicated on the opposite sides of the space defining the wall structure to be poured. After removal of the bolts 17 and the structure associated with the panel 10, the tie rods 16 remain embedded in the concrete. The conical recesses formed by the removal of the tapered inner end 18 of the bolt 17 can either be filled with concrete or mortar, or covered with an ornamental plug.

In the fully-assembled condition, the walers 13 and 14 are clamped securely against the outer edges of the studs 12 by the action of the wedge 19. This wedge engages the outer shoulder provided by the cut-away areas 20 on the bolt 17, and the clamping action is generated by pounding the wedge 19 downward. Prior to the application of forces from the poured concrete, the opposite sides of the form system are prevented from approaching each other by the presence of hair pin spacer 21 traversing diametral hole 22 in bolt 17. The spacer 21 engages the inner edges of the walers 13 and 14, and forms an abutment against which the clamping action from the wedge 19 can be developed for positive spacing of the forms prior to the deposition of the liquid concrete. The structure thus far described is conventional.

During the assembly of the walers and the tie system to the remainder of the form structure, the walers are supported by the plate-shaped brackets 23. These are shown in detail in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. The tabs 24 and 25 are bent laterally from the material of the central portion of the plate to provide positioning points for the bracket by interengagement for the opposite edges a or b with the outside edges of the stud 12. When both of these edges b are in bearing engagement with the edge of the stud, the waler-supporting edge 26 (and also the diagonally-opposite waler-supporting edge 27) are disposed perpendicularly to the plane of the outer edges of the studs. With the plate 23 oriented as shown in FIG. 4, the distance 0 between the outer edge of the stud and the abutment surface 28 of the stop 29 corresponds closely to the width of a two-by-four under the new dimentional standards (which is 3% inches). It is preferable to incorporate a marking as shown at 30 to indicate that the support plate is oriented to receive this size of waler. When the plate is rotated 180 about a horizontal axis to the installed position shown in FIG. 7, the distance d is established to admit a two-by-four of the older standard, which provides a width dimen- SYs inch e rkingasindicated at 31 shows is desireable to distinguish between the stop 29 and the diagonally opposite stop 32 in configuration. This distinction is provided by the angled corner 33 in contrast to the square corner 34. This type of distinction can be detected by touch, and is useful particularly an occassion where light may be inadequate to read clearly the markings 30 and 31. Both ends of the plate 23 are perforated as shown at 3537, and 38-40 to receive nails (preferably double-headed) or other fastenings 41-43 securing the plate to the stud.

It is obviously necessary that both positions of the plate 23 should provided clearance between the extreme ends of the plate and the panel 10. This means that the distances e and fmust be less than the width dimension of the studs. This condition can be provided while still accommodating larger members in the dimensions c and d by alterations of the length of the tabs 24 and 25 in a direction parallel to the walersupporting edges 26 and 27. Having the tabs longer or shorter in proportion to the distances 0 and d will accommodate the principle to considerably different types of dimensional variation.

I claim: I

l. A wall form system for confining poured concrete, said system including: spaced opposite panels, a plurality of stud beams reinforcing said panels and disposed on the opposite sides thereof from the space between said panels, at least one waler beam on each side of said form system disposed transversely to said stud beams and normally bearing against said stud beams, disconnectable spacing tie means extending between said waler beams and traversing said space, and waler support plates normally secured to said stud beams and extending in cantilever relationship to support said waler beams, respectively, said support plates having locating tab means engageable with the outer edge of said stud beams, wherein the improvement comprises a configuration of said waler support plates to adapt the same for use in conjunction with two different sizes of lumber used in said waler beams, said configuration being defined as follows:

parallel waler-supporting edges at diagonally opposite portions of said support plates, respectively, opposite portions of said tab means being engageable with the outer edges of said stud beams to establish alternative positions of said support plates wherein said waler-supporting edges are perpendicular to said stud beam edges; and

stop means at the opposite extremities of said plates providing abutment surfaces engageable with the outer edges of said waler beams, the distances between said abutment surfaces and the plane of the most remote of said tab means portions from said abutment surfaces,-respectively, corresponding to two different standard lumber widths.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said sto means has an outer configuration different from the other of said stop means.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said tab means is a pair of opposite tabs parallel to said waler-supporting edges, and integral with said support plates at positions adjacent said waler-supporting edges, respectively.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, additionally including at least one aperture at the opposite ends of said plates, respectively, for receiving fasteningmeans.

associated therewith.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein both of said distances from said extremities are less than the smaller of said distances from'said abutment surfaces.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO. 3, 81 5, 862 DATED 1 June 11, I974 |NVENTOR(S) 1' Chester l. Williams it is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line I9 --cr should be -crs-- Column 2, line 9 Fo should be --for Column 4, line 5 on should be on Signed and sealed this 10th day of June 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

C MARSHALL DANN RUTH C MASON Commissioner of Patents Attestlng 0ff1cer and Trademarks 

1. A wall form system for confining poured concrete, said system including: spaced opposite panels, a plurality of stud beams reinforcing said panels and disposed on the opposite sides thereof from the space between said panels, at least one waler beam on each side of said form system disposed transversely to said stud beams and normally bearing against said stud beams, disconnectable spacing tie means extending between said waler beams and traversing said space, and waler support plates normally secured to said stud beams and extending in cantilever relationship to support said waler beams, respectively, said support plates having locating tab means engageable with the outer edge of said stud beams, wherein the improvement comprises a configuration of said waler support plates to adapt the same for use in conjunction with two different sizes of lumber used in said waler beams, said configuration being defined as follows: parallel waler-supporting edges at diagonally opposite portions of said support plates, respectively, opposite portions of said tab means being engageable with the outer edges of said stud beams to establish alternative positions of said support plates wherein said waler-supporting edges are perpendicular to said stud beam edges; and stop means at the opposite extremities of said plates providing abutment surfaces engageable with the outer edges of said waler beams, the distances between said abutment surfaces and the plane of the most remote of said tab means portions from said abutment surfaces, respectively, corresponding to two different standard lumber widths.
 2. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said sto means has an outer configuration different from the other of said stop means.
 3. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said tab means is a pair of opposite tabs parallel to said waler-supporting edges, and integral with said support plates at positions adjacent said waler-supporting edges, respectively.
 4. A combination as defined in claim 1, additionally including at least one aperture at the opposite ends of said plates, respectively, for receiving fastening means.
 5. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the distance between the outer extremities of said plates and the plane of the adjacent portions of said tab means is respectively less than the said distances from the opposite abutment surfaces to plane of the said tab means associated therewith.
 6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein both of said distances from said extremities are less than the smaller of said distances from said abutment surfaces. 